Flying-machine.



0. R. CASSBLL.

lFLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED uma. 1910.

15,024,766. Patented Apr.30,`1912.

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FLYING MACHINE. APPLIOATloN LILBD APR. s, 1910.

Patented Apr. 3o, 1912.

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FIYINGGIVIAGHINlll.V

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenteanpr. 3o, l1912.,

Application led April 8, 1910. Serial No. 554,217.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR R. CAssELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to' composite flying machines of that type wherein provision is made for utilizing the buoying effect of a body of gas as well as the supporting effect of the dynamic reactions of the air upon the surfaces of a flotation plane.

The'objects of the invention are to provide a machine of this character having a flotation surface forming both an aeroplane and an envelop for a gas reservoir, to provide novel means for holding the bags of a sectional reservoir in position, to pro` vide novel means for buoying the machine if accidentally precipitated upon the surface of a body of water, and to provide novel means for supporting the machine upon the ground and 'steering the same while in flight. Y

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangements of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a View in side elevation of a flying machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is atop plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through a portion of the machine taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. v5 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. l. Fig. 7 is a detail section taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 isa detail view of the shifting weight employed for vertical steering and fore and aft balancing.

[The machine comprises a substantially cigar-shape frame formed of curved longltudinal stringers 1 intermediately connected by a longitudinal series of vertically and transversely disposed bands or rings 2, the extremities of the stringersl being attached to front and rear coupling bearings 3. Each couplingv bearing Vand the adjacent portion of the frame structure supports pairs of vertically disposed fins 4 and horizontally dis# posed fins 5, projecting respectively above and below and from opposite sides of the frame to prevent vertical and lateral deflection ofthe machine from its course and thus adapt it to travel in a straight line.

Arranged within the upper half of the frame and extending longitudinally thereof is a substantially semi-cigar-shape flotation body, the upper surface and sides of which conform to the contour of the upper surface of the frame, while the lower surface thereof is substantially flat or longitudinally curved. The said body consists of an outer shield or envelop 7 made of some suitable fabric and a sectional gas reservoir inclosed therein, said reservoir being formed of a longitudinal series of independent gas bags 8 arranged in abutting contact and each pro? vided with a nipple 9 projecting downward through the base of the body whereby it may be filled with gas when occasion re-` quires.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the body forms an aerostat including a reservoir which may be filled with hydrogen or other gas lighter than air, and which is thus adapted to support a large proportion of the weight of the machine in the atmosphere. The lower flat orlongitudinally curved surface of this aerostat also serves the function of a supporting plane or l surface against which the air strikes in the travel of the machine and b y its dynamic lreactions thereon provides means for supplementing the buoying or lifting action of the aero'stat to 4effectually sustain the entire weight ofthe machine and its occupants.A

By making the reservoir in sections, said reservolr may be conveniently replenished with gas anda new gas bag or section substituted for an imperfect one within a minimum period of time, and in the event of leakage of gas from or damage to any one of the sections the efficiency of the remaining sections will remain unimpaired. Preferably, a. vertical fin or vane1 10. is provided centrally of the upper surface -ofathe aerostat for cooperation with the fins 4 and 5 to prevent deflect-ion of the machine from its course.' A. belt 11 of cork or other suiti able material buoyant in water is preferably provided within the body 6 and extend.-

ed around the same to'insure flot-ation and? the safety of the machine'and its occupants in theevent that the machine should be pre,

cipitated into a body of water. A ladder 12 is provided for use under such conditions to enable the occlflpants of the machine to climb to the'topo-r unfsubmerged portion oit thebody 6. The'ladder 12 extends upwardly from.

a car, platform or receptacle 13 arranged centrally of the frame and at the lowest portion thereof. This car or receptacle is prcferably substantially boat-shaped and forms a support for the aviator and passengers, if

any, the driving motor and the steering and controlling devices. The propelling mechanism comprisesfront and rear pulling and pushing propellers 14 and 15 mounted upon the corresponding end of a longitudinally 'extending shaft 16 journaled in the coupling bearings 3 and in suitable bearings 17 carried by cross braces connecting the sides of certain of the trame rings or bands 2. As

' `shown, the'shaft is connected intermediate of its length by a sprocket drive chain 18 with amotor 19 mounted on the car, but any suitable transmission gearing fordriving the shaft from the motor maybe employed. Secured to the frame band beneath the under side of the body 6 are `,inclined flat or curved aeroplanes 20 and 21, disposed in tandem relation, for further pro meting sustentation` of the machine.

The machine is mounted at front and rear upon correspondingly constructed wheeled trucks 22, designed to support the machine upon the surface of the ground and to be.

employed in an obvious manner in launching and landing. Each of these trucks is carried by an axle or stem journaled for oscillation in a. bearing 24 pivoted upon a bracket 2.5lv carried by the frame forfore and aft swinging movement, each truck thus being adapted to turn in its bearing to 'adjust the wheels laterally for steering purposes and to swingwith its bearing longitudinally of the machine` for a purpose hereinafter described. A cross bar 25 is arranged upon the upper end of each axle 23 and the cross bart;y of the two trucks are coupled by chains or other connections 26v by which said trucks may be turned in unison through the medium of suitable operating means, notl shown, arranged to transfer motion to said chains. Each truck is connected above and below the bearing to adjacent portions of the frame by diverging springs 27 and 28, which'normally tend to hold the trucks in a neutral position and return the same to such position after each lateral steering movement thereof. In making a. landingV or descent it is desirable to adapt the trucks to have a cushioning action on contacting with the surface ot' the ground. This action is secured by the capability of 'the trucks to swingV rearwardly with their secured. .A vertical rudder 29 is mounted upon each truck, so that by turning the trucks when the machine is in flight the lat- 3 ter may be steered in a horizontalplane.

ln order to place the center of gravity of the machine at a low point as well, as to provide means for vertical steering, a, shifting weight. 30 is employed and connected with the lower stretch of an endless belt 81 l extending longitudinally beneath the 'frame and under the car 13 and passing around suitable guide pulleys 32 on said trame. The weight is normally arranged in the vertical center line ot the nmchine coinciding with the center of gravity and is adapted to be shifted by the movement of the belt to a.. posit ion in front or rear ol said center line totilt the machine downward or upward in a tore and aft direction, whereby the ascent and descent of' the machine may be readily controlled.

To shift the ielt a lever 323 is employed, which is mounted upon the car 13 and. connected with the upper stretch' ott' the belt, as clearly shown in Fig.

From he foregoing description, taken in connectior with the drawings, it vwill oe ob \vious that .in the event of the stoppage of the motor or reduction ot the speed of the machine from any other cause below that required to sustain it in flight the buoyant body 6 will still atl'ord suliicient support to prevent the machine from dropping slide denly to the ground and sustain it so that it will descend slowly and easily, without liability of injury to the .machine or danger to the aviator. Other important advantages will be apparent 'without recitation.

Having thus described my invention, claimz- 1. A iying machine embodying an clongated s'ubstantially cigar-shaped frame, an aerostat occupying the upper halt' of the frame, said aerostat comprising a sectional gas reservoir and a 'casing therefor, the lower surface of said casing forming an portion of the frame in front and rear of the transverse `center thereot, said aeroplanes being arranged 1n tandem relation a car arranged within and supported by the frame below the juxtaposed ends of said tandem aeroplanes, coupling members con aeroplane, aeroplanes arranged in the lower and inclined downwardly and rearwardly necting the frame elements at the front and stantially cigarehaped traine composed ott lil curved longitudinal stringers and a series 4 of transversely arranged bands connecting and reinforcing the same, coupling bearings connecting the front and rear converging ends of the st-ringers, vertically and longitudinally disposed fins at eaeh end of the frame held by the coupling hearings, adj acent ends of the. stringers and contiguous bands, a flotation body occupying the upper half of said frame and extending longitudinally thereof, said'hody forming a gas reservoir andan aeroplane surface at the base thereof, a shaft extending beneath said surface and journaled in said coupling, propellers mounted upon said shaft, and 15 means for driving the shaft. x

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

` OSCAR R. CASSELL. "Witnesses:

EVERETT A. BRETT, J. H. MEUSE.` 

